on MUCH MORE THAN ME (& a GIVEAWAY!)

Sometimes you just stumble onto something so cool, you can't believe you hadn't heard of it before. That's what happened with Much More Than Me. As soon as I got to the website I was in shock I hadn't ever been there before.

Much More Than Me is an amazing company that was founded "out of a joint desire to give people a creative way to advocate for acting with greater compassion toward human beings and animals". To that end, Much More Than Me has a shop full of awesome t-shirts, and for each one purchased, a percentage of the sale is donated to a cause. And even cooler yet, is that you get to select what organization to donate to, from a great list of options. While MMTM was founded from the core passion to advocate for rescue animals, they support and promote lots of organizations. So, in short, you pick your tee, and you pick where you want your donation to go. Plus, you get to join ranks with the celebrities and actors that support the company. Win-win-win.

One of the co-founders of MMTM was incredibly generous and sent me the Rafferty Reasons t-shirt, which I (honestly) wore four days in a row. Yes, that's right, four. Mainly because it's so incredibly comfortable, but also because I was so honored to wear such a great message around town.



You have a chance to win your own t-shirt from Much More Than Me! If you win, you'll get to select the item you want. Make sure to enter below, and to follow them on their Facebook page and Twitter (definitely find the coupon code currently being offered, too).

Please note: this giveaway IS open to International followers :)

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on THREE YEARS WITH HENRY ELLIOT

On July 27, 2010, Henry Elliot Raleigh Alexander Anderson made his way into my life and picked me to be his mommy. This past Saturday, we celebrated three years together with a little outing to PetSmart. His sissy came, too, and he graciously allowed her to share in his day (as he was raised very well by his momma and is a polite and loving little bear). Check his face below, I just die.

Henry and Layla each picked out a toy. Hedgehogs for everyone! A tug-o-war style guy for Hens-El and a little pink one for La. Both mega-squeakers and good to toss.

Above: Henry: "Mom, this is the best day ever!" Layla: "I judge you."

Sleepiest bear in the world.

I don't know if you guys have caught on yet, but I love this tiny man with my entire heart. I still remember sitting with him on my dining room floor on that first day, how scared and small he was, and his foster mom asked if I was interested in keeping him or not. I immediately felt horrified that she even asked - this was my dog, my Henry. I just knew it. There's a bumper sticked commonly spotted on many a suburban vehicle, that reads: Who Rescued Who? (do note: I totally want one of these) and it couldn't be more true about my Hen. He saved me, he taught me what unconditional love looks like, what it feels like, and what matters.

Hen has taught me, you know, an exceptional amount of things. But this year, with the addition of Layla June, he's taken it up to a whole new level. Here's a few of the lessons baby bear has given me recently:

1. The people who love us are always there waiting for us. We can't be separated (truly separated) from those that share our hearts. Therefore distance ain't nothin but a different time zone.
2. We don't know what's coming next, but we can choose how we handle it. When I came home with La, Hen basically tried to eat her. He pouted and was hurt, but then.. he changed his mind. Decided to be friends. This past week, they attempted playing together (I cried). If my baby dog can choose the higher road, then I can, too.
3. Show your affection. Hen has taken to resting his head on my hand as he falls asleep. This gentle action makes my heart fill up and burst with love.
4. Treats are important. Have them often.
5. Fresh air is nearly always the answer. Leaping and playing in grass will also aid you in any decision making.
6. You have to play. You just have to. Daily. Often. Silliness and play time are clutch.
7. Get vocal about the people you love. This boy basically screams at the top of his lungs every time I come through the door. I could be gone 5 minutes or 5 days, and it's a freaking party up in here.
8. Sharing is cool, but sometimes you need to whine or gripe about someone trying to take your toys. Let it out, and then try to practice sharing again.
9. Naps. Naps, my friend. Very important. Fluff your blankets and pillows around a bit, too.
10. Words aren't as needed as we think. Henry tells me exactly what's up with his eyes, body, and actions.
11. Rejoice. Dance. Leap. Wave your front paws (arms) around wildly. Smile as wide and as big as you can. Show joy with your entire body. Wiggle. Shake your tail. Kiss the people you love. Roll around on your back. Stretch. Wear your love all over your body.

This is the story of how we came to be & this is what I wrote on our one-year of togetherness.
(Important to note that those years were really rough, and I was not in a great place. You'll catch on as you read some of the snark and hurt laced between those words.)

He is still, by far, the number one best decision I've ever made. He is my best friend, and I'm so proud to see him interacting with other doggies and people, and to see how much he's grown. The best lesson of all that he taught me, is that we all truly just need love and to know we are wanted, and trust that we belong. Those things heal us and shape us into our bravest, best selves.
Oh little bear, I love you so.

ON Kindness For Your Soul (OR; Cappy The Dog)

One of the amazing dog rescues that I am lucky enough to volunteer with is Badass Brooklyn Foster Dog. They are seriously some kick-ass humans who go down South and rescue dogs from the (super high) high kill shelters. They have a whole team of volunteers/fosters down South who help and a whole other team up North, here in NYC. They've rescued over 800 dogs. 800 dogs!

This picture and story appeared on BuzzFeed last week, now with well over 160,000 views. It's gotten so much attention that there's a longer story featured on HuffPo today.

The stories are great but the best part is getting more attention, fans, and volunteers for Badass, and for animal rescues every where. So if it touches your heart, do share with your social media network.

You can follow the Badass Twitter here (you may, ahem, hear a familiar voice tweeting) or 'like' their Facebook page here. Streams of cute pups all day? Yes please.

P.S. Make sure you enter my Dollars for Doggies giveaway!!

ON Dollars For Doggies (A Birthday Fundraiser & GIVEAWAY!)

Last year, for my birthday, I asked friends & family to donate to an animal rescue instead of buying me any presents. The result? $600 and my best birthday yet. This year, I'm sweetening the deal with an amazing GIVEAWAY and by reaching out to the incredibly supportive blog community to see if we can beat last year's total for two amazing dog rescues. Without further ado, I present to you...

With these kindhearted bloggers...

Ten Feet Off Beale / Katilda / Head Over Heels 

Let Me See You Sparkle / Of Corgis & Cocktails / Bubby & Bean

Heather Hearts / Walking In Memphis In High Heels

And these generous businesses...

Ziva Mind / Viesso

All to benefit two incredible rescues:

Second Chance Rescue NYC / Dogs Without Borders

Here's what you'll be entered to WIN:

a dog print from Bubby & Bean // gorgeous teal triangle earrings from Katilda

beautiful lavender earrings from Walkin' In Memphis In High Heels // custom hoop art from Ten Feet Off Beale

$25 Sephora gift card from Heather Hearts // $25 Starbucks gift card from KerryingOn (that's me!)

custom blog header and social media icons designed by Of Corgis & Cocktails

$25 Etsy shop credit from Let Me See You Sparkle

$20 Etsy shop credit from Head Over Heels

the stunning Muuto Flow Jug, generously donated by Viesso

and.. a FULL Scholarship to ZivaMind, generously offered by Ziva Meditation!

To Enter, please make sure you complete your donation here.

The minimum donation requirement is $1 but if you can give more,

the dogs and rescue folks would surely appreciate it :)

The giveaway will run through the end of the day (11:59 pm EST) of May 20th, 2013.

THANK YOU so much to the generous bloggers and companies for their support,

and Thank YOU for donating & Good Luck!

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ON a Dog That Needs Your Help (& the rescue that's saving her life)

EDIT: If you want to keep up with Misty and how she is doing, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mistys-Journey/326106977514930

_____

**please note that my dogs are safe and sound and this is not about them**

If you know me, you know I love dogs. Fiercely. You would also know that my Henry is the love of my life, that there is nothing and no one I love more than him. And you would know that Lady is the latest addition to my heart, and is my foster girl from Los Angeles. If you know me, you know that I would do anything to protect these two, but that my love for pups extends far and wide to babies I don't know and will never meet. You'd also know I call them babies, shouting it down city streets when I spy one! "Look! A baby!" "Uh, Kerry.. that's a dog.."

These pictures show how dogs deserve to live. They are both tucked into warm beds at night, have stuffed animals to snuggle with, clothing to keep them warm and dry in bad weather, and someone who holds them and loves them. They both reach for my hands all the time, and hold them. Those hand pictures are not staged. They both still constantly tell me how grateful they are, and teach me things that I know humans can't teach me. They fill my heart up so much.

There is a little girl pup who - excuse the language - has had the living shit beaten out of her. By humans. Human beings. Luckily, an amazing rescue group took her out of the shelter she wound up in, with her week old gashes and cuts that have turned to infections. It's really bad. I'm not going to post a photo of her here but you can visit the Second Chance Rescue Facebook Page and see for yourself (do note that it's graphic). Second Chance takes in dogs that are in horrifying conditions all the time, and they really need your help. If you can donate even one dollar to them, you'll be helping to save this little girl. If you can skip Starbucks tomorrow, donate the three dollars that costs. If you can skip sponsoring a blog next month, donate the ten.. you get the idea.

Dogs need us to be their voices. Speak up, get educated on dog fighting and how to stop it. Learn what a bait dog is and then pray like hell for the ones who end up being one. Get informed on the living hellholes that are puppy mills (like the one Henry came from) and always, always spay and neuter your pets and never support buying a dog from a pet store or breeder. Blogs are fun, pretty clothes, giveaways, I know. But this post has to exist, too. And if you can't stand it, if you can't stomach it, that's okay, I get it. But hug your dog tonight and tell them they're safe with you. xoxo

ON little lady red riding hood

Someone was particularly fussy. She couldn't get comfortable and was flouncing and flopping around. I could hear her little self whining and asking for me to play and stop working. She threw her feet around and wagged her tail, thumping it on the bed to get my attention, looking back at me to catch my eye. So I caved. And we played. And flounced together, as you do. I put her hood on and it delighted her ever so and we played photo shoot (a favorite game around these parts). And then when we'd had enough, we had ourselves a belly rub. We were happy as could be, me and my girl in her hoodie.

Can we just discuss the photo of her back to me in her hoodie? With her tiny tail sticking out? And the one with the giant smile on her face? Just killed me dead with cuteness these pictures did. Further proof that pups have the same array of emotions that we have, and eagerly and expressively share them with us. Silly little girl, she is :)

ON Lady meets nyc (& i guess it's okay here)

 

Lady is painting the town red. Just taking over Manhattan like she owns the joint. Makes me oh so proud. A woman on a mission, she is! Since we've gotten back to town, she's been to Lincoln Center, taking in art and culture, and all over Central Park. There are new rules here, mainly one big one entitled: "Lady don't eat that!". In LA, it was okay to eat some stuff on the ground, not too much but once in awhile it was okay. She could get her nose in whatever and slide her little wriggly body, snout first, ending up on her back and rolling on the sidewalk to fully engage in whatever scent she was smelling. (Dog owners you know what I'm talking about, am I right?) But here, it's a lot of "Leave it!" & a whole bunch of "No ma'am, you may not".

We've explored most of the upper west side, and today we finally caved and bought a hoodie that is perfectly Lady sized (big ups to the guy working at petco who casually slid my starbucks cup out of my hands before disaster struck in the form of me spilling it everywhere) because apparently NYC is on strike from warm weather. What gives, city? Get onboard! Warm weather is all the rage and I'd really like to stop wearing my sleeping bag aka coat. We've taken a vote, Lady and I, and we prefer it in LA. We like to run around with very-little-to-no clothing, bare feet, bright eyes. We're free spirits and we can't help it.

Lady is hysterical. She does these little run-jump-skips in excitement and leaps up and down, twirling, when she sees I've taken her leash out. She laughs, mouth wide open. And she sleeps in my bed, paws or back pressed on to me, sometimes I wake up and her head is against mine. Even now as I type this, she's slid her way into my side of the bed, nestled between my pillow and the folded over part of the blanket. And on her paws, all the dirt from all the exploring, right there where I sleep. And I don't even care. Oh Lady, you wild woman, you sure have captured my heart.

p.s. you've heard all about GFC (google's blog reader) ending this summer, right? do me a solid and scroll up and click the 'follow with bloglovin' button, would you? this will ensure you won't miss a single entry in the fascinating world that is my life. you are welcome, friend.